Digitalis plant named ‘Takforoiv’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Digitalis  plant named ‘Takforoiv’, characterized by its rose and cream colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, columnar-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Digitalis×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Takforoiv’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Digitalis plant botanically known as Digitalis×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Takforoiv’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands during June 2008. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Digitalis cultivars having unique flower coloration.

The new Digitalis cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Digitalis purpurea breeding selection coded 17097, not patented, characterized by its purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Digitalis canariensis breeding selection coded 7738, not patented, characterized by its orange-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2009 in a controlled environment in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2009 in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Takforoiv’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Digitalis plant:

-   -   1. Rose and cream colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, columnar-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and in having a smaller flower size. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and in having a larger flower size.

Of the many commercially available Digitalis cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Illumination Flame’, not patented. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Illumination Flame’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar has a darker flower color than         plants of ‘Illumination Flame’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Illumination Flame’.

In addition the new cultivar can be compared to Foxlight Ruby Glow ‘Takforugl’, U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/998,085. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Takforugl’ in having a lighter flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Takforoiv’. The plants were grown in 1.5 gallon containers for approximately two months in a greenhouse and 12 weeks outdoors in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Takforoiv’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Takforoiv’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2014 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 1.5 gallon containers for approximately two months in a greenhouse and 12 weeks outdoors in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 45° F. to 65° F. (7.2° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 35° F. to 45° F. (1.7° C. to 7.2° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Digitalis×hybrida cultivar Takforoiv. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Digitalis purpurea breeding             selection coded 17097, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Digitalis canariensis breeding             selection coded 7738, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 15 to 20 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 42 to 49             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 12 to 14 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             columnar-upright.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 49.0 cm. Width: Approximately 54.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of branches per             plant: Approximately 1 main branch, with approximately 5             basal clumps.         -   Main branch.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length to base             of inflorescence: Approximately 25.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.3 cm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.7 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.             Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem:             144A with an overlay of 187A. Color of mature stem: 144B to             144A with an overlay of 187A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 25. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Rosette at plant base and alternate on             flowering stems.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular or obtuse angle to stem.             Shape: Elliptic to narrow elliptic. Margin: Serrate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 16.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 7.5 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Rugous, densely pubescent. Color of upper surface of young             and mature foliage: N137A with venation of 146C. Color of             lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138B             with venation of 146D and midvein of 145D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 7.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:             Upper surface closest to 146D and lower surface closest to             145D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Takforoiv’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming throughout the summer.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             10 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General Description.—Type: Terminal raceme. Aspect:             Primarily erect. Quantity per plant: Approximately 11.             Fragrance: None. Length or height: Approximately 23.0 cm.             Width: Approximately 9.0 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers             per inflorescence: Approximately 10.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 16.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm to             8.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 144B to 144A tinted 187A in             sun. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single, campanulate, not persistent.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately             1.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm. Color: Calyx of 146B             with an overlay of 187A, petal portion 185A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Bilabiate. Aspect: Facing outward and             downward. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width: Approximately             2.8 cm. Depth: Approximately 4.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5 petals fused at base forming a throat             and consisting of an upper lip with three lobes and a             single-lobed projecting lower lip. Shape: Obovate. Margin:             Entire, ciliate. Apex: Obtuse, with lateral lobes notched             and lower lobe having sides rolled under forming a central             point.         -   Upper lip.—Length of upper lobe from throat: Approximately             1.3 cm. Width of upper lobe: Approximately 1.8 cm. Length of             lateral lobes from throat: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width of             lateral lobes: Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture of upper             (inner) surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface:             Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper surface when fully open: 158A             with margins of 70A. Color of lower surface when fully open:             70A.         -   Lower lip.—Length of lobe from throat: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Width: Approximately 1.7 cm. Texture of upper (inner)             surface: Moderately pubescent. Texture of lower (outer)             surface: Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when fully             open: Margin of 70A with central nectar glide approximately             3.0 mm from margin; glide has base color of 158A with spots             throughout of 187A and N172D, side borders of N172D. Color             of lower surface when fully open: 70D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width:             Approximately 1.8 cm. Texture of inner surface: Sparsely             pubescent on lower portion (nectar glide). Texture of outer             surface: Glabrous. Color of inner surface: 158A with an             overlay of 70A, spots of 187A and 173A forming nectar glide             continue from lower lip. Color of outer surface: 70A and             lower portion of 70B with irregular spots of 155A.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped, tips flare out with age. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Width:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Densely pubescent. Color of upper (inner) and lower (outer)             surfaces: 137A, apex tinted 187A in sun.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A tinted 187A in sun.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 2.9 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 1.2 cm. Filament             color: 72B. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: 7A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 3.1 cm. Stigma             shape: Bifid. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 155D. Style length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Style             color: 145D with a faint overlay of 72B, near stigma. Ovary             length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Ovary texture: Densely             pubescent. Ovary color: 144B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Digitalis has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Digitalis plant named ‘Takforoiv’ substantially as herein shown and described. 